The heart of my backyard pool sound system is a high quality Pioneer car stereo that was salvaged from a scrap vehicle. I initially powered it with a 12 volt laptop charger, but occasional power outages would mean I had to often redo the settings. I had a spare battery maintainer exactly like yours and I picked up a 12 volt lawn tractor battery. With the stereo connected to the battery which is connected to the maintainer, everything works perfectly and no more setup loss issues.
Excellent video. I went out and bought a 4 amp Deltran battery charger and maintainer for my truck. Nowhere in the instructions does it suggest 'how often' I should use this product. My vehicle is only driven once or twice a week and less than 10 miles each trip. I know it could be used daily, but that's probably not necessary. Any idea how often it should be used ?
You can frequently use and leave your battery maintainer on all the time. Environment / region plays a huge factor in the equation. As an example, my sports car (driven similarly to your usage) battery would discharge within a week when I lived on the Pacific Coast. So, as soon as I parked it, I would connect my maintainer until the next drive. When I moved to the interior, the same driving habits didn't require a maintainer. In short, attach/use the maintainer as much as you want - they are designed for constant and long term use.
And it’s not fun to access the door release when the battery dies. But the neighbors get a good laugh when the see Vette owners crawling through the hatch.
Can you use a 4 amp battery maintainer/charger to two 6 Volt deep cycle AGM golf cart batteries in a series? My charger can do deep cycle, 6 volt or 12 V AGM. When I read the charger/maintainer instructions said don’t charge more than one battery at a time but it did not state that on the outside of the box. Short of opening and reading each charger instruction manual, how do I know what charger/maintainer to use. By the way, best video ever! I have watched hours of videos on charging because I have different batteries (golf cart) rather than car and I have them in a series. Hard to find info pertaining to my situation.
I think you just gave me a great idea for a video (lol). Yes, but with restrictions. A parallel connection means that positive posts of each battery are electrically connected together and the negative posts of each battery are electrically connected together. The voltage of a parallel connected battery pack is exactly the same as the voltage of each battery in that pack. If the nominal battery voltages (i.e. 12V, 8V, 6V) are the same on each battery, and if the batteries are the same lead acid type (flooded, AGM, or Gel Cell), then yes, a battery maintainer/tender can be used to charge more than 1 battery simultaneously when those batteries are connected in parallel. Just remember that 2 batteries in parallel behave like one large battery. The charge storage capacity of each battery simply adds together. Two 12 volt batteries, each with 25 amp hour capacities, will look like one 12 volt battery with a 50 amp hour capacity. You may be able to charge more than 1 battery simultaneously, but it will take longer to do it.
@@YourHomeGarage Thank you. Both batteries are the same and same age. Okay to charge both at same time when in a series instead of in parallel? Such as, battery number one negative post to battery number 2 positive post? And, battery charger/maintainer hooked up positive post battery one and negative post battery two?
I have a battery tender with no citrate plug. I have to open the hood every time. I really like a tender with the plug. Could you advise me where I get the plug? Or tell me the brand of your tender so that I will purchase one. Thank you.
Does this have to to be plugged into a wall continually then also connect to car at same time? My car is on the street and losing charge cause I don’t drive it much. Don’t have access to a outlet in street. Not sure how this works. Thanks.
Great question - so the short answer is “yes” it has to be plugged into an electrical outlet and then the other end into your car cigarette/auxiliary port or directly to the battery terminals. In your situation you may want to look into a solar pack that can be set on your dashboard to power your battery maintainer. Second alternative is to remove your car battery and store it in a garage with the maintainer connected to it. Third is to leave it in the car, but disconnect the terminals so there is no draw on the battery and then reconnect when needed. Forth is to run an extension cable to the car to power the maintainer - but not really ideal if the extension cord has to cross the sidewalk or other public access. The solar pack is likely your best option, but disconnecting the battery leads may work if you drive it frequently enough before the battery dies. Hope the few options help.
Thanks for that! My father was an amazing technician and I enjoyed spending time under the hood of a car with him. Just trying to pass on a few hints and tips to others.
My battery is also in the trunk and I leave the lid open because of the following; the car is safely stored in my garage and the interior lights automatically turn off after a set period of time. These conditions make it perfect for me to not close the lid. However, the cord is durable and technically made to go through a door. Just locate the widest gap between the trunk lid and the rear fender and just close the lid softly. You should be fine.
Hi, Excellent explanation. You are a very good teacher. I have one question. Does the “ Cigarette Lighter” socket have to be still live when the car is turned off, like in a Ford, or just a functioning, intact circuit? I own a 2014 Toyota Hylander, not a hybrid. Thank you in advance. Tom G
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, the cigarette lighter/auxiliary port does have to remain live when the car is off for this method of connection. However, most maintainers come with multiple connection options, so use the alligator clips and connect directly to the battery if there isn’t an operational auxiliary port when the vehicle is off. My Toyota RAV4 cuts the power to the auxiliary port as well when off - similar to Honda. So every manufacturer is slightly different with their approach. Hope that helps.
Very instructive. Can the battery tender be connected for three or four months at a time? Is there a fire hazard? I live in another state but have a car in Florida which I use a few times a year.
Automatic maintainers are meant to be used for very long periods of time. Some companies will say “leave it on forever”. I average about 8 months on my car before I take it off.
The for the video. My first time looking into a battery maintener. I had a car battery died on me after a 10 day trip a month ago. What if you parked your car in a public or airport parking lot and go on a trip for 3 weeks in NY winter? There is no electrical outlet to plug in. Can I attached the maintener to my battery and close the hood? Thx for the info.
The quick answer is “yes” you can close the hood, trunk (like I do) or keep it in the cabin if it’s an aux plug, with a maintainer properly connected. Your issue is going to be power to the maintainer. If airport parking is outside then you might want to explore a solar blanket that sits on the dash to power the maintainer. Of course a snow covered windshield or underground parking will void this idea. Another option is just to disconnect the negative terminal when you park the car. Some “park and fly” stations offer a battery boost as it’s common for long term customers to experience a dead battery. I think you’re best option is to just disconnect the battery - the lack of a power supply to the maintainer is going to be the challenge in this situation.
If you don't have an electric outlet in the garage, can you use a portable battery power station, of course, the portable battery has a limited power source?
Yes, you can use a portable power source, though that comes with challenges. Mainly ensuring the power source is sufficiently charged, regularly. In addition, there are solar power units you can purchase for your battery tenders. So, if by chance you can get one with a long enough cord to access sunlight and reach your car - that may be a more convenient option vs a portable power unit.
Are violet colored gloves required when hooking up a battery charger? haha All jokes aside thanks for the info especially about what size charger/maintainer works best. Bigger isn't always better in this case! -Glen
Good point, I should have worn my orange nitrile gloves to match the battery tender - lol. And thanks for the kind words along with the glove comment. It made me laugh.
Thanks for the kind words Arni - glad you enjoyed it. I just hope it helps someone from damaging their battery. And a little extra knowledge goes a long way in getting the right tools for the job.
The battery on my Camaro is in the truck, can Install a Cigarette Lighter female Pug in the truck directly to my battery then just plug in the maintainer that way? The lighter plug in my car turns off after 30min. Also, what gauge wire should I use? Thanks for your help.
Instead of trying to wire a cigarette lighter (auxiliary port) for the battery maintainer - why don't you just use the alligator clips to connect directly onto the battery posts?
@@YourHomeGarage I just figured it would be more permanent, the clips might release? Corvette has a similar lighter plug in the truck, easy just to insert the maintainer in, vs tearing the car apart to reach the battery. My maintainer has a lighter plug already on it.
On older trucks and cars, with weeks on end of not using a vehicle, pop the hood and use a battery dissconnect...have used these disconnects for years .... any auto store has them for $10. Disclaimer--I cannot attest to the newer vehicles of today with the computers and such---they may need the battery connected all the time to avoid computer failure, etc....
The power is coming from a wall receptacle and can either charge the car battery through the cigarette lighter (only if the cigarette lighter is constantly powered) or directly connected to the battery with alligator clips.
@@YourHomeGarage thanks for the clarification...the cig lighter is a transportation device to get power to the battery without opening the hood. Probably better for women but they still have to run an electrical cord through the window from an outlet. Watch out for Bird $h-t...
you must be living in the dark ages... most women know how to open the hood... I'm a retired Class A automechanic, a Honda specialist from Ottawa, Ontario. If a woman says she can't open the hood it usually means she'd rather someone else did it, or no one has showed her the underhood release lever. Human beings are not born knowing that, they have to be shown it at some point in their lives.@@justthings6405
If it plugs into a regular wall outlet and the other end goes into the cigarette lighter, then do you have to leave the window down or can you close the door on the wire?
I have found that lots of “smart” maintainers charge and then turn off only starting yo charge again under 12v. Allowing a battery to sit under 12.6. starts to sulfate. At what voltage does your maintainer start charging again in maintenance mode?
Definitely, anything under 12.6 means the battery is undercharged (90% or less) possibly as a result to sulfation as you said. I believe my maintainer has a float mode of 13.5V - I think that is standard amongst all popular brands.
So I don’t have a garage to store my car in and therefore the Axtra battery maintainer would be sitting in the open uncovered as would my car hood. If I leave it overnight would the morning dew/condensation hurt the charger/battery? I drive it once a week and my last battery died on me because of that.
Is the vehicle kept outside? If it is, then you can get a solar pack/blanket to power the battery tender. And if you have a live socket inside the car, then the hood never has to be open; otherwise you can carefully position the batter tender under the hood and still have it closed while plugged into the solar blanket. Hopefully this explanation makes sense and helps you out.
Please my truck is parked on the street. I have no source of electrical power to plug a battery charger or tender.. pls what are my options? Is a solar park a replacement for power sockets?
Correct. It’s just another option to connect a battery maintainer. And if the car is stored outside - a solar charger on the dashboard that plugs into the cigarette lighter works like a charm.
Just a nit to pick, about those who nit pick about something not relevant to the subject matter. Perhaps you can "just go ahead" and find far greener pastures for your nit picking. A few idioms, never hurt anyone set out to learn about a battery tender.
What kind of battery tender do you use?
BT Junior. Charges both lead acid and lithium.
I use a battery tender, 4.5 amp great unit!! Excellent video!! 👍🇨🇦
The heart of my backyard pool sound system is a high quality Pioneer car stereo that was salvaged from a scrap vehicle. I initially powered it with a 12 volt laptop charger, but occasional power outages would mean I had to often redo the settings. I had a spare battery maintainer exactly like yours and I picked up a 12 volt lawn tractor battery. With the stereo connected to the battery which is connected to the maintainer, everything works perfectly and no more setup loss issues.
I miss the old head units that we use to swap out periodically. And that’s a great way to get power to it.
I am very happy to know one use of a multimeter, i will refer to you every time to check my batteries. Tyvm
Excellent instructions; clear and to the point! No fluff. Subbed!!!👍🏽
Excellent video. I went out and bought a 4 amp Deltran battery charger and maintainer for my truck. Nowhere in the instructions does it suggest 'how often' I should use this product. My vehicle is only driven once or twice a week and less than 10 miles each trip. I know it could be used daily, but that's probably not necessary. Any idea how often it should be used ?
You can frequently use and leave your battery maintainer on all the time. Environment / region plays a huge factor in the equation. As an example, my sports car (driven similarly to your usage) battery would discharge within a week when I lived on the Pacific Coast. So, as soon as I parked it, I would connect my maintainer until the next drive. When I moved to the interior, the same driving habits didn't require a maintainer. In short, attach/use the maintainer as much as you want - they are designed for constant and long term use.
@@YourHomeGarage Thank you.
Such a great video to educate. Thanks. I have been looking for a video like this for a few years.
Glad it was helpful!
My Corvette drains too this will be a big help
And it’s not fun to access the door release when the battery dies. But the neighbors get a good laugh when the see Vette owners crawling through the hatch.
Great instructor! Thank you!
Can you use a 4 amp battery maintainer/charger to two 6 Volt deep cycle AGM golf cart batteries in a series? My charger can do deep cycle, 6 volt or 12 V AGM. When I read the charger/maintainer instructions said don’t charge more than one battery at a time but it did not state that on the outside of the box. Short of opening and reading each charger instruction manual, how do I know what charger/maintainer to use. By the way, best video ever! I have watched hours of videos on charging because I have different batteries (golf cart) rather than car and I have them in a series. Hard to find info pertaining to my situation.
I think you just gave me a great idea for a video (lol).
Yes, but with restrictions. A parallel connection means that positive posts of each battery are electrically connected together and the negative posts of each battery are electrically connected together. The voltage of a parallel connected battery pack is exactly the same as the voltage of each battery in that pack.
If the nominal battery voltages (i.e. 12V, 8V, 6V) are the same on each battery, and if the batteries are the same lead acid type (flooded, AGM, or Gel Cell), then yes, a battery maintainer/tender can be used to charge more than 1 battery simultaneously when those batteries are connected in parallel. Just remember that 2 batteries in parallel behave like one large battery. The charge storage capacity of each battery simply adds together. Two 12 volt batteries, each with 25 amp hour capacities, will look like one 12 volt battery with a 50 amp hour capacity. You may be able to charge more than 1 battery simultaneously, but it will take longer to do it.
@@YourHomeGarage Thank you. Both batteries are the same and same age. Okay to charge both at same time when in a series instead of in parallel? Such as, battery number one negative post to battery number 2 positive post? And, battery charger/maintainer hooked up positive post battery one and negative post battery two?
Do you find that Lexus SC430 models have a common phantom battery drain!
I have a battery tender with no citrate plug. I have to open the hood every time. I really like a tender with the plug. Could you advise me where I get the plug? Or tell me the brand of your tender so that I will purchase one. Thank you.
Very good tutorial on battery tender
Does this have to to be plugged into a wall continually then also connect to car at same time? My car is on the street and losing charge cause I don’t drive it much. Don’t have access to a outlet in street. Not sure how this works. Thanks.
Great question - so the short answer is “yes” it has to be plugged into an electrical outlet and then the other end into your car cigarette/auxiliary port or directly to the battery terminals. In your situation you may want to look into a solar pack that can be set on your dashboard to power your battery maintainer. Second alternative is to remove your car battery and store it in a garage with the maintainer connected to it. Third is to leave it in the car, but disconnect the terminals so there is no draw on the battery and then reconnect when needed. Forth is to run an extension cable to the car to power the maintainer - but not really ideal if the extension cord has to cross the sidewalk or other public access. The solar pack is likely your best option, but disconnecting the battery leads may work if you drive it frequently enough before the battery dies. Hope the few options help.
@@YourHomeGarage Thank you for taking the time to reply! Very much appreciated!👍👍👍
You sound like a genius! This is an Amazing video.
Thanks for that! My father was an amazing technician and I enjoyed spending time under the hood of a car with him. Just trying to pass on a few hints and tips to others.
My battery is in the trunk. When I plug the tender into the electrical outlet do I closed the trunk on the wire? would that damage the wire?
My battery is also in the trunk and I leave the lid open because of the following; the car is safely stored in my garage and the interior lights automatically turn off after a set period of time. These conditions make it perfect for me to not close the lid.
However, the cord is durable and technically made to go through a door. Just locate the widest gap between the trunk lid and the rear fender and just close the lid softly. You should be fine.
Hi,
Excellent explanation. You are a very good teacher.
I have one question. Does the “ Cigarette Lighter” socket have to be still live when the car is turned off, like in a Ford, or just a functioning, intact circuit? I own a 2014 Toyota Hylander, not a hybrid.
Thank you in advance.
Tom G
Thank you for the kind words.
Yes, the cigarette lighter/auxiliary port does have to remain live when the car is off for this method of connection. However, most maintainers come with multiple connection options, so use the alligator clips and connect directly to the battery if there isn’t an operational auxiliary port when the vehicle is off.
My Toyota RAV4 cuts the power to the auxiliary port as well when off - similar to Honda. So every manufacturer is slightly different with their approach.
Hope that helps.
Very good video. Thanks.
Very instructive. Can the battery tender be connected for three or four months at a time? Is there a fire hazard? I live in another state but have a car in Florida which I use a few times a year.
Automatic maintainers are meant to be used for very long periods of time. Some companies will say “leave it on forever”. I average about 8 months on my car before I take it off.
Can a battery tender and a battery disconnect be used at the same time?
The for the video. My first time looking into a battery maintener.
I had a car battery died on me after a 10 day trip a month ago.
What if you parked your car in a public or airport parking lot and go on a trip for 3 weeks in NY winter?
There is no electrical outlet to plug in. Can I attached the maintener to my battery and close the hood?
Thx for the info.
The quick answer is “yes” you can close the hood, trunk (like I do) or keep it in the cabin if it’s an aux plug, with a maintainer properly connected.
Your issue is going to be power to the maintainer. If airport parking is outside then you might want to explore a solar blanket that sits on the dash to power the maintainer. Of course a snow covered windshield or underground parking will void this idea.
Another option is just to disconnect the negative terminal when you park the car.
Some “park and fly” stations offer a battery boost as it’s common for long term customers to experience a dead battery.
I think you’re best option is to just disconnect the battery - the lack of a power supply to the maintainer is going to be the challenge in this situation.
Please make more battery tender videos please.
Is there anything specific you would like to see? I welcome the ideas - thank you!
If you don't have an electric outlet in the garage, can you use a portable battery power station, of course, the portable battery has a limited power source?
Yes, you can use a portable power source, though that comes with challenges. Mainly ensuring the power source is sufficiently charged, regularly. In addition, there are solar power units you can purchase for your battery tenders. So, if by chance you can get one with a long enough cord to access sunlight and reach your car - that may be a more convenient option vs a portable power unit.
Are violet colored gloves required when hooking up a battery charger? haha All jokes aside thanks for the info especially about what size charger/maintainer works best. Bigger isn't always better in this case! -Glen
Good point, I should have worn my orange nitrile gloves to match the battery tender - lol. And thanks for the kind words along with the glove comment. It made me laugh.
Nice information video. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words Arni - glad you enjoyed it. I just hope it helps someone from damaging their battery. And a little extra knowledge goes a long way in getting the right tools for the job.
The battery on my Camaro is in the truck, can Install a Cigarette Lighter female Pug in the truck directly to my battery then just plug in the maintainer that way? The lighter plug in my car turns off after 30min. Also, what gauge wire should I use? Thanks for your help.
Instead of trying to wire a cigarette lighter (auxiliary port) for the battery maintainer - why don't you just use the alligator clips to connect directly onto the battery posts?
@@YourHomeGarage I just figured it would be more permanent, the clips might release?
Corvette has a similar lighter plug in the truck, easy just to insert the maintainer in, vs tearing the car apart to reach the battery.
My maintainer has a lighter plug already on it.
On older trucks and cars, with weeks on end of not using a vehicle, pop the hood and use a battery dissconnect...have used these disconnects for years .... any auto store has them for $10. Disclaimer--I cannot attest to the newer vehicles of today with the computers and such---they may need the battery connected all the time to avoid computer failure, etc....
One question---What do you have to hook it up to a cigarette lighter for if the wall plug is where the power is coming from?
The power is coming from a wall receptacle and can either charge the car battery through the cigarette lighter (only if the cigarette lighter is constantly powered) or directly connected to the battery with alligator clips.
@@YourHomeGarage thanks for the clarification...the cig lighter is a transportation device to get power to the battery without opening the hood. Probably better for women but they still have to run an electrical cord through the window from an outlet. Watch out for Bird $h-t...
you must be living in the dark ages... most women know how to open the hood... I'm a retired Class A automechanic, a Honda specialist from Ottawa, Ontario. If a woman says she can't open the hood it usually means she'd rather someone else did it, or no one has showed her the underhood release lever. Human beings are not born knowing that, they have to be shown it at some point in their lives.@@justthings6405
awesome video -- thank you !!!
Thank you for the kind words.
If it plugs into a regular wall outlet and the other end goes into the cigarette lighter, then do you have to leave the window down or can you close the door on the wire?
You can close the door on the wire.
I have found that lots of “smart” maintainers charge and then turn off only starting yo charge again under 12v. Allowing a battery to sit under 12.6. starts to sulfate. At what voltage does your maintainer start charging again in maintenance mode?
Definitely, anything under 12.6 means the battery is undercharged (90% or less) possibly as a result to sulfation as you said. I believe my maintainer has a float mode of 13.5V - I think that is standard amongst all popular brands.
So I don’t have a garage to store my car in and therefore the Axtra battery maintainer would be sitting in the open uncovered as would my car hood. If I leave it overnight would the morning dew/condensation hurt the charger/battery? I drive it once a week and my last battery died on me because of that.
Is the vehicle kept outside? If it is, then you can get a solar pack/blanket to power the battery tender. And if you have a live socket inside the car, then the hood never has to be open; otherwise you can carefully position the batter tender under the hood and still have it closed while plugged into the solar blanket. Hopefully this explanation makes sense and helps you out.
Please my truck is parked on the street. I have no source of electrical power to plug a battery charger or tender.. pls what are my options? Is a solar park a replacement for power sockets?
Correct - the solar pack will power the batter tender.
So the car essentially keeps itself charged through its own cigarette lighter socket?
Correct. It’s just another option to connect a battery maintainer. And if the car is stored outside - a solar charger on the dashboard that plugs into the cigarette lighter works like a charm.
The cheap ass 18x18 solar panel with a charge controller worked great to charge and tend my school bus
The solar panels are great substitute when an extension cord isn’t practical for a battery tender.
I thought this video was going to be 3 seconds long where the guy plugs a battery into a battery tender and says “like this”.
Now I wish I would have thought of that - lol!!!
Just a nit to pick about English... you can leave off the "just go ahead" in most cases.
Just a nit to pick, about those who nit pick about something not relevant to the subject matter. Perhaps you can "just go ahead" and find far greener pastures for your nit picking. A few idioms, never hurt anyone set out to learn about a battery tender.
awesome video --thank you!!!